Frameless side glass adjustment

Abstract: An adjuster (10) for the inboard\outboard adjustment of a frameless side glass has a first block (11) secured to a guide (21) for the side glass adjacent the lower end thereof and a second block (12) secured to a support panel (25). The first and second blocks (11, 12) have threaded apertures (13, 14), the apertures (13, 14) being located coaxially of one another, the thread of one aperture (13) being of opposite hand to the thread of the other aperture (14). A spindle (15) has threaded portions (16, 17) one at each end, the threaded portions (16, 17) corresponding to and engaging the threaded apertures (13, 14) of the blocks (11, 12) and a hexagonal socket (30) being provided in the end of the spindle (15) by which the spindle (15) may be rotated to move the blocks (11, 12) together or apart, thereby moving the lower end of the guide (21) inboard or outboard relative to the support panel (25).

Description: The present invention relates to the adjustment of frameless side glasses in motor vehicles and in particular to an adjuster for providing inboard/outboard adjustment of frameless side glasses. Frameless side glasses for vehicle doors are typically located by two or more guides which are located between the inner and outer skins of the door. There is a requirement to adjust glass after fitting to the door, in order to ensure that the glass sealingly engages the body work or hood material of the vehicle to produce a water tight seal therewith. DE-U-8621577 discloses a screw adjuster for a vehicle window comprising a spindle with oppositely handed threads, one thread engaging a corresponding thread associated with a guide rail and the other thread a thread associated with a structural component. This adjuster however utilises a lock-nut which significantly complicates the adjuster assembly and the process of adjustment. According to one aspect of the present invention, an adjuster for the inboard/outboard adjustment of a frameless side glass comprises a first block adapted to be mounted with respect to a guide for the side glass adjacent the lower end thereof and a second block is adapted to be mounted with respect a support panel, the first and second blocks having apertures which are adapted to be located coaxially of one another when the blocks are mounted with respect to the guide and support panel respectively, said apertures having screw threads, the screw thread on the first block being of the opposite hand to that on the second block, a spindle having threads one at each end, corresponding to the threads of the first and second blocks, said threads on the spindle engaging the corresponding threads on the first and second blocks and means being provided for rotation of the spindle characterised in that the first and second blocks are made of reinforced plastics material which will provide a tight engagement with the threads on the spindle. With the adjuster described above, the bottom end of the guide is located with respect to the support panel by means of the spindle. The upper end of the guide will be mounted with respect to a support member in a manner which will permit limited pivotal movement of the guide. The guide may then be adjusted by rotating the spindle so that the blocks are moved together or apart. The means for rotating the spindle is preferably a slot or socket in the end of the spindle, which may be engaged by a screwdriver, Allen key or the like. The spindle is preferably located in the blocks so that it is transverse to the plane of the side glass to provide inboard/outboard adjustment. According to the invention, the blocks are made a reinforced plastics material, for example glass reinforced nylon, which will provide tight engagement with the threads on the spindle. The spindle may be made of a corrosion resistant material, for example stainless steel. An embodiment of the invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 illustrates in isometric view, an adjustor in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the adjustor illustrated in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the adjustor illustrated in Fig. 1. As illustrated in the accompanying drawings an adjustor 10 for inboard/outboard adjustment of a frameless side glass for the door of a motor vehicle comprises a pair of blocks 11, 12 formed from 30% glass reinforced nylon. The blocks 11, 12 are provided with screw threaded apertures 13 and 14 respectively, the screw threaded aperture 13 in block 11 being of opposite hand to the screw threaded aperture 14 in block 12. A stainless steel spindle 15 has threaded portions 16, 17 one at each end, the threaded portion 16 corresponding to the threaded aperture 13 of block 11 and the threaded portion 17 corresponding to threaded aperture 14 of block 12. Blocks 11, 12 are provided with further apertures 18, 19 by means of which the blocks 11, 12 may be secured to associated components by means of suitable fastening means, for example screws, bolts or rivets. Block 11 is secured to a bracket 20 which is mounted adjacent the lower end of a guide channel 21 for the side glass. The block 11 is secured to the bracket 20 so the axis of the threaded aperture 13 is transverse to the guide channel 21. The upper end of the channel 21 is secured to a support member adjacent the upper edge of the door, in a manner which will permit limited inboard/ outboard pivotal movement of the channel 21. Block 12 is secured to the door inner panel 25, so that the threaded aperture 14 is coaxial with threaded aperture 13 of block 11. The spindle 15 is screwed into blocks 11 and 12, threaded portion 16 engaging threaded aperture 13 and threaded portion 17 engaging threaded aperture 14. A hexagonal socket 30 is provided in the end of the spindle 15 that engages block 12, so that an Allen key may be engaged in the socket 30 to rotate the spindle 15 and move block 11 towards or away from block 12. Movement of the block 11 towards block 12 will move the lower end of the guide channel 21 inboard and hence provide outboard adjustment of the side glass extending from the upper edge of the door while movement of block 11 away from block 12 will move the channel 21 outboard, providing inboard adjustment of the side glass. Adjustors as described above will be provided adjacent the lower ends of each of the guide members locating the side glass, so that by appropriate adjustment of the lower end of the each of the guide members, the plane of the glass in its raised position may be adjusted so that the side glass will engage the bodywork/hood material of the vehicle to provide a watertight seal therewith. The present invention provides a rattle free adjustment mechanism for inboard/outboard adjustment of the side glass, particularly when tight threaded engagement is achieved by, for example the use of reinforced plastics materials. The use of opposite handed screw threads also acts to lock the spindle so that once adjusted, the spindle will not be rotated by vibration.

Claims: An adjuster (10) for the inboard/outboard adjustment of a frameless side glass comprises a first block (11) adapted to be mounted with respect to a guide (21) for the side glass adjacent the lower end thereof and a second block (12) is adapted to be mounted with respect to a support panel (25), the first and second blocks (11, 12) having apertures (13, 14) which are adapted to be located coaxially of one another when the blocks (11, 12) are mounted with respect to the guide (21) and support panel (25) respectively, said apertures (13, 14) having screw threads, the screw thread on the first block (11) being of the opposite hand to that on the second block (12), a spindle (15) having threads (16, 17) one at each end, corresponding to the threads on the first and second blocks (11, 12), said threads on the spindle (15) engaging the corresponding threads on the first and second blocks (11, 12) and means (30) being provided for rotation of the spindle (15) characterised in that the first and second blocks (11, 12) are made of reinforced plastics material which will provide tight engagement with the treads on the spindle (15). An adjuster (10) according to Claim 1 characterised in that the guide (21) is mounted adjacent its upper end in a manner which will permit limited inboard/outboard pivoting movement. An adjuster (10) according to Claim 1 or 2 characterised in that the means (30) for rotating the spindle (15) is a slot or socket which is provided in the end of the spindle (15) for engagement by a screwdriver, Allen key or the like. An adjuster (10) according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the first and second blocks (11, 12) are made of glass reinforced nylon. An adjuster (10) according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the spindle (15) is made of a corrosion resistant material. An adjuster (10) according to Claim 5 characterised in that the spindle (15) is made of stainless steel. An adjuster (10) according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that means (18, 19) is provided for attachment of the first and second blocks (11, 12) to the guide (21) and support panel (25) respectively. An adjuster (10) according to Claim 7 characterised in that apertures (18, 19) are provided in the first and second blocks (11, 12) for engagement of fastening means. An adjuster (10) according to Claim 7 characterised in that interengaging formations are provided on the first and second blocks (11, 12) and the guide (21) and support panel (25) respectively to provide for transverse and rotational location of the blocks (11, 12). A frameless side glass for a motor vehicle, the side glass being located adjacent its lower edge in a plurality of guides (21), each guide (21) having an adjuster (10) for inboard/outboard adjustment characterised in that each adjuster is as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9.

Inventors: LARNER MICHAEL OWEN, WARWICK RICHARD CHARLES, YATES CHRISTOPHER JAMES EDWARD, LARNER, MICHAEL OWEN, WARWICK, RICHARD CHARLES, YATES, CHRISTOPHER JAMES EDWARD
Applicants: JAGUAR CARS, JAGUAR CARS LIMITED
Application year: 1994
Main classification: B60J1
IPC codes: B60J1